Nasiba Eyvazova: “When I showed the exhibits, I said that these things take life from a handful of Shusha soil”

"Development of Society and Media" Public Union with the support of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan “Let's Know and Glorify Shusha” continues the implementation of the project. Within the framework of the project, the website loveshusha.com was created and the website began to operate in three languages - Azerbaijani, Russian and English. Based on the site, information about the past and present of Shusha and the people of Shusha will be posted. As part of the "Year of Shusha", the site loveshusha.com will give priority to interviews with Shusha residents and their memories. The next interviewee of Loveshusha.com is Nasiba Eyvazova, the director of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's house museum in Shusha.

 – In each of the articles and interviews we read while preparing for the interview with you, your appreciation for Uzeyir Bey's music and creativity is felt...

– That's right. This factor that encouraged me to work in Shusha with joy. Love and affection for people in general comes from our family, figuratively speaking, it is in our blood. From 1982 to 1992, I was the director of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's house museum in Shusha. The museum was opened in 1959 to perpetuate the name of the genius.

Until I was appointed director of the museum, there were only books and copies of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's manuscripts. That is, he had no personal belongings. But after my appointment, I established a close relationship with Uzeyir Hajibeyov's home museum in Baku and bought the personal belongings of the composer's relatives and brought them to the museum in Shusha.

–  How did you remove the items and exhibits when you left Shusha?

– The situation worsened day by day. In recent days, the evacuation began and the residents of Shusha were removed from the city. In those days, I appealed to the management that the museum might be destroyed, I brought these items to Baku with difficulty. They said let's allocate a room in Shusha prison for museum items, I did not agree. According to the legislation on museums, it is not allowed to move any object from one place to another without the order of the Minister of Culture. Without waiting for anyone's permission, we took the museum items together with our friends and left Shusha.

In short, I broke the law and left Shusha by stealing things, as they say. Do you know what was the most painful?  Take a handful of soil. When I took the soil, I cried and said that I am taking it and I will return it. Indeed, this soil is so dear and native to me...

When I always showed the exhibits, I said that these things take life from that handful of soil of Shusha. You take your own life, but you leave the thing of your genius that will never exist again... That would be dishonest. I took Uzeyir Bey's childhood clothes, coat, suit, his first violin, pen, candle, mother's wedding dress.

At that time, a carpet depicting the works of Uzeyir Bey was woven in the carpet museum in Shusha. They gave it to us to demonstrate. It was my moral duty to return it to the owner. I took it too and returned it to its owner, the Carpet Museum. Maybe someone appreciated it, someone didn't, but I am proud to say that Armenian vandals could not capture any of Uzeyir Bey's personal belongings. Along with things, I also took out manuscripts, gifted books and records of the genius composer, and it's good that I made such a decision in those difficult days.

– How did you meet the news of Shusha's liberation  from occupation?

Frankly, I must admit that I had lost my hopes. I did not believe that Shusha would be liberated from the occupation. But the war started. We heard the news from the front. I was happy when the names of the liberated places were announced. It was a double joy for me. My son Nijat Eyvazli fought from Fuzuli to Shusha. I did not hear from him for 8 days. The appeals of the head of state became our place of hope. One day it was announced on television that the president will address the people. In that appeal, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Shusha announced that Shusha had been liberated from occupation (cries - ed.). I wanted to scream, but as I lost my voice deep in my throat. Two hours after this news, I also received news from my son. He was seriously injured. Thanks to God for today. My son was awarded 6 medals by the decree of the President.

– Were you able to visit Shusha after it was liberated from the Armenian occupation?

– I visited Shusha twice after it was liberated from occupation. The first time I climbed the Jıdır Duzu, I felt that I aged. After all, when I got out of there, I was jumping from one rock to another. Now I was trying not to fall. For 30 years, I lost my parents. I lost my youth. I am proud that I dedicated these years to Uzeyir Bey. But I was always in someone's shadow. Very pity. I once met former Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev. I informed him about the work I did. He said, don't worry, go sit at home, after a week you will have your name and your reward. But it didn't happen. No problem. I received my main name in front of God, in front of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's soul. I did everything for my country. My forehead is open. My land is back. This is the main assessment.

– Is the restoration of the museum expected?

- They invited me to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and learned my thoughts. The museum will be restored to its previous state, and not only Azerbaijanis, but tourists from different parts of the world will visit Uzeyir Bey's hearth.

Ayten Ahmadova, Kerem Alasgarov